Chilly Charmers

09/16/2025

Please join us in congratulating the infernalis class of 2025!

They're 3 months old. They devour pinkies from both plate and tong. They keep their hands to themselves and do not bite their friends.

We're proud to showcase these honors graduates, who are ready to embrace all that the next vivarium has to offer.

Oh, the places they'll go!

08/23/2025

Check your calendars. Fall mating is in full swing.

07/29/2025

We posted a pic of this little cutie the other day. Some of the scales didn't form correctly, giving it a kink and hindering its movement. Can you see the deformity?

07/26/2025

Food fight!
Another day saving lives.
_____
Updated to add:
Most people enjoy feeding their pets and watching them eat. A single garter in a tank is easy to serve. Put food in a bowl and check back later to make sure it’s been eaten. Not so fast in a group enclosure! Feeding can be frenzied, chaotic, and even downright dangerous.

You absolutely must supervise every minute that food is in the tank in a group enclosure. Inevitably, two snakes decide to share the same bite and a fight gets underway. When neither lets go, one can inadvertently swallow their tank mate, killing one or even both.

Here are a few examples that we filmed for learning purposes only. We quickly stepped in to separate the culprits. We recommend separating aggressive eaters and shy eaters into smaller groups. We also transition our babies to tong feeding, which helps keep everyone busy chewing their own bite. It also speeds up meal time.

07/23/2025

07/17/2025

William’s littlest little, a special needs case, who we’re coaxing along. 💕

Early morning / still groggy.

07/13/2025

Raising babies!
How long do you think feeding takes? Our littles eat every other day.

Send a message to learn more

07/04/2025

06/29/2025

First gulp of air

While the vast majority of snakes lay eggs, garters are ovoviviparous which means that the baby develops within an egg that stays inside the mother. At birth, the mother delivers each clear, soft egg sac. Within moments, the snaklett breaks through and takes its first breath. Sometimes the eggs break during delivery and the babies emerge as though it were live birth.

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06/22/2025

Oodles of Noodles!

Our three mamas delivered 71 California red sided garter snakes. And big congrats to Chuck Cherry who guessed 72, closest to the number of live babies.

Feast your eyes. 🐍😍

06/20/2025

How it started / How it's going

William Snakespear was our first infernalis, arriving the week of Thanksgiving, 2018. We thought she was a male for a long time and by the time we figured it out, the name had stuck.

William has always been darkly colored. The truth is, I used to be a bit jealous of the bright reds and blues that people show off in the groups. But hasn't she turned into a stunner?

William's easy to hold. Never bites and rarely musks. She's also, notably, the slowest eater on the planet, hovering over her food and occasionally even resting her chin on it. We have to protect her meal from wood-be-thieves in her group enclosure.

Though almost 7 years old, William has only had two litters of babies. The first was last year and now a large, healthy clutch today.

Congrats William! We can't wait to see if you've passed these dark genes along. ❤️

06/18/2025

How to train your infernalis / aka, how to perform an exorcism.

These tips are good for all species but are especially helpful with infernalis since they sometimes carry a shady reputation.

- Handle babies with every meal.
- Weekly swim parties and let them gently squirm through a towel to dry off.
- Glass enclosures in high traffic areas so they get used to seeing you.